Aron helped him back up. "Do I have to give you the definition of slowly? Lia? Can you scout ahead?"

what little strength she had gone, Kadelyn crumpled into a small heap. All hope left her. Everyone had left her behind.

Liadan nodded and ran ahead. She did not get very far before she tripped over something- maybe her own feet- and landed flat on her face.

"I'm okay!" She said, getting up and resumed her walk up the beach. She stopped when she saw what looked like a small child.

"It's my little girl!" Nelek was impatient with his own weakness.

"That's not possible, Nelek. Is it? How could it be true?" Aron's voice held a hint of hope though.

Liadan knelt next to the child and felt for a pulse. The child lived. "Hey, Aron! We have a kid here!"

"How in the..we're on our way." He held Nelek's arm as he picked up a little speed.

Nelek struggled, trying to run.

Aron reached Lia. "How did this child survive here all this time? Or did they?" He held his breath for a moment. "Are they breathing?"

"It's alive. Probably survived how I did when I was a kid- eating whatever can be gotten hold of and hiding." Liadan gently turned the child over.

The child had been silently sobbing, having given up all hope. She could make out a face through her tears. She reached up to wipe them away. "Auntie Lia!" She hoped she wasn't dreaming.

"Kadelyn! If we had known you were here we would have come much sooner for you." Liadan tried to clean the child's face with her somewhat-clean sleeve.

"Kadey!" As weak as he was, Nelek sunk to the ground to gather his daughter into his arms. Tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Papa!" the girl cried out, squirming away from her aunt and settling in her father's arms. "Everyone lefted me here."

"I'm sorry." Nelek gulped and kissed her forehead. "We'll get you back to Mama soon, Kadey."

Kadelyn wrapped her arms around his neck, refusing to even consider letting go.

Nelek tried to stand up holding Kadelyn, but he was too weak. He looked to Aron and Liadan. "I think we need food."

"I wonder if there is still any vegetables in the inn garden," Aron said absently. "Something that might not have been ready at the time of the raid.

"And there's always rats." Liadan pointed out again.

Aron couldn't hide his grimace at the thought of eating rats.

Liadan scowled at Aron. "Are you too good for rats?"

"Just sounds...nasty."

Liadan's shoulders stiffened. "If I hadn't eaten rats I would have starved to death long ago."

"I never ever said I was too good for them. I just don't know that I would like them."

"They're really not bad." Liadan said.